Macroeconomics Indicators

The biggest IT story of the day is PLDT’s acquisition of Digitel which operates Sun Celluar, the 3rd largest telco player in the Philippines.
PLDT, which owns Smart Comm., becomes a much bigger operator and strengthening it’s number 1 spot in the country.
The Philippine Long Distance Telephone company announced today its acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) from JG Summit amounting to Php74.1 billion or 51.55% shares in exchange of new PLDT assets worth 2,500 per share.
Digitel, which owns Sun Cellular, announced that under the new leadership the paired networks will continue to the expansion of broadband rollout and other next generation technologies in both fixed and wired services. {source: PhilStar}
PLDT says Sun Cellular will remain a separate entity and retain the brand. Smart already surpassed 45 million subscribers in 2010 while Sun Cellular, which has over 16 million subs, was already inching closer to Globe Telecom (26.5 million).
Smart’s rapid growth and expansion requires  wider frequency and that might have prompted the Sun Cellular buy-out. At the same time, Sun Cellular has become a large player in terms of post-paid subscribers (even the first one to reach 1 million). Meanwhile, Smart has only around 500k postpaid subscribers while Globe has around 900k.
From having 3 large celco players, we now have just 2 — Smart at far #1 and Globe at a minority #2.
I don’t like it but you have to admit it was a brilliant move by Smart. If you can’t beat them, buy them out.
I am a Smart prepaid user but I value Sun’s promotions as they force Smart and Globe to offer similar promos.
They mentioned that Sun Cellular will become a separate entity, so this could mean a wider network for Sun Cellular which I hope, while retaining the unlimited plans.
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